Controller for hydraulic air-compressors.



Noi"7 .34,904. 'v PATENTED JULY 28. 19D3.

` V WQ J. LINTON.

NTROLLER FOR HYDRAULIC AIR GOMPRBSSORS.

` APPLIOATION FILED DBO. 5, 1900.

N0 MODEL.`

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i isbeing utilizedas a source of power to drive 21,1900, under Serial No. 6,044, of whichthis t isa divisional part and wherein the air is .t consists of means automatically actuated through the medium ofythe air under comp air supplied to the falling` water.

sary use of the water by any one plantis to the disadvantage of the other plants.

trated in vertical sectional view, and in Fig.

of the town of Woodstock, inv the county of sure, for controlling the volume of water su p- `present invent-ion reference must be had to `the-accompanying drawings, `forining a part `of this specification, in which in Figure l a Patented July 28, 190B.

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PATENT 4VVILLIA'M JOHN LINTON, OF VOODSTOCK, CANADA, ASSIGNOR THE TAYLOR HYDRAULIC AIR COMPRESSING COMPANY, LIMITED, OF MONTREAL, CANADA, A lCORPORATION OF CANADA.

CONTROLLER FOR HYDRVULIC AIR-COMPRESSORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LetterslPat/ent N o; 734,904, dated July 28, 1903. Original application` iiled February 21, 1900, Serial No. 6,044. Divided and this application filed December 5,1900. `Serial No. 38,849. i

To all whom it may concern.- A

Beit known that I, WILLIAM J oHN LINToN,

Oxford and Province of'Ontario, Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllers for Hydraulic Air-Compressors; and I do hereby` declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and

My invention relates particularly to hydraulic air-compressors of the type described conducted to a separating or compressing' chamber by a descending body ol water. Y

` My present invention may be said to consist in providing means for regulating the power of compression of an hydraulic aircompressor to a predetermined normal..

t More specifically* speaking, the invention pression in the separating-chamber, when it varies from a predetermined normal presplied to the stand-pipe and the quantity of I have found my present invention particularly useful where the water-supply available several other plants and where the unneces- For full comprehension, however,of my hydraulic air-compressing plant with my present invention applied thereto is illus- 2 a detail sectional view of my three-way valve is shown.

ct is the shaft, and b the stand-pipe. The

upper end of the stand-pipe'b projects a short distance above the floor d of the cylindrical water-receiving chamber.e,and this chamber e is connected toithe dam (not shown) by a fiume g. I A series of hollow annular sections h are tnt moan.)

superimposed one upon `the other and collectively form an extension to the upper end of the stand-pipe. The lower inner edge of each series of horizontally-arranged bars la of inverted-V cross-section are secured in correspondingly-shaped openings in the inner wall of each of these sections h, and an airsupply pipe c, communicating at its lower end with the interior of each of said hollow annular sections, leads therefrom upwardly and is closed at its upper end. Each of these pipes has a lateral extension m near the upper end thereof, and a damper n to control an opening therein, the function of these dampers being to regulate the draft of air through the pipes o, and each damper-is automatically operated by a pinion o, formed in one therewith and rotated by a rack p, to be further alluded to. A vertically-movable cylindrical section q at times rests upon the top ofV the uppermost section 7L and is of a height to (when resting upon said 'uppermost section) have its upper edge extend 'above the highest water-level attainable in the dam. This cylindrical section q constitutes a valve for controlling or cuttinnr off completely the flow of water into the slandpipe, and for actuating this valve to this purposeconnect thewpiston-rod r of a piston s in acylindert to the said valvular cylindrical section q. The vertical rack lo, before inentioned, is rigidly securedto the cylindrical section q adjacent to each damper-pinion 0, with which it intermeshes. The lower end of the interior of this cylinder tis in communication through a pipe u with one, 2, of the ports in the casing of a three-way valve 4, the other two ports 5 and whereof communicate, respectively, with the atmosphere and with a T-pipe, onebranch, 7, whereof is connected to a pipe 8, leading from the separating-chamber 9, and the other branch, 10, to one end of a horizontal cylinder 11. A piston 12 is located within this cylinder 1l` and The outer end of the piston-rod 13 is connected also to one arm, 16, of a bell-crank lever,

the other arm, 19, whereof is graduated in the form of a beam and carries an adjustable counterpoise 20. In order to assist said Valvular cylinder in its control of the volume of water to pass through the stand-pipe, I provide a ring 28, tittingwithin the upper end of the stand-pipe and having secured rigidly thereto a series of horizontally-arranged bars 29 of triangular cross-section With'concave upper sides. The upper edges of these bars 29 extend parallel to and are located between the bars lr'. This controller is supported by four'rods 30, each pivotally and adjustably hung from one end of a lever 31, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the interior of the cylindrical valvular section q. The pivotal adjustable connection between the inner ends of these levers 31 and the rods 30 is effected by means of a sleeve 33, pivotally connected to said inner ends, which are forked, while the upper ends of the rods 30 are screw-threaded and passed through these sleeves and have localizing-nuts 34 and jamnuts 35 therein, these rods being pivotally connected at their lower ends, as at 36, to the ring 28. By this connection the rods, and through them saidaugmental controller, can be adjusted to either almost completely close the spaces between the lower series of bars k when the valvular section q is at its extreme height or to leave a space such as shown.

By means of the above construction the bars 29 will be automatically moved toward or away-from the air-bars k, thereby diminishing or increasing the space for the passage of the descending water between said bars as the volume of water decreases or increases and at the same time causing said water to as nearly as possible envelop the openlower side of the lower series of said bars, and the rise and fall of this valvular cylindrical section q will through the racks and pinions automatically open and close the controlling- Valves of the air-supplying pipes.

The separating-chamber is and may be of the construction illustrated in my above-mentioned pending application, of which this, is a divisional part; but such type is illustrated herein for the sole purpose of showing the operative relation between the air undercompression in the compression-chamber 9 and my improved controller. The operation of my improved controller is as follows: The air-charged water, as usual, descends the stand-pipe b, the air is separated therefrom andretained in the compression-chamber, andthe water rises in the shaft and flows away. It must first be ascertained what working pressureis necessary to supply the power required for the work to be done by the plant. It is obvious that any power generated more than is necessary for thework to be done is Asuperiuous and waste energy.

'20 should then be moved along the beam 19 Consequently limiting the generating power of the plant to the work to be done will obviate this waste of energy' and allow it to be utilized for other purposes. Let it be supposed that a normal working pressure of ninety pounds isrequired. Thecounterpoise to the corresponding mark thereon. As the pressure of air in the pipe 8, leading from the separating-chamber, overcomes the weight of the valvular cylindrical section q, the piston r, and the intermediate connections therebetween such parts will be raised to the position shown and the fullvolume of water allowed to descend. If, however, the pressure in pipe 8 exceeds ninety pounds, the counterpoise 2O will be overcome and the piston 12, and with it the lever 14, of the three-way valve moved. This will cut the communication between4 the pipe 8 and the cylinder t and establish a communication between said cylindert and the exhaust-port of the three-way valve, thereby allowing the valvular cylindrical section q to fall and cut off the water and air supply until normal pressure within the plant `is restored, after whichthe valve q will be again lifted and the air-valves opened, as before mentioned.

WVhen the compressor is being constructed, the valvular cylindrical section m is supported by any suitable means (not shown) that can be easily removed after. operation has commenced.

Other specific means than that illustrated may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The specific means herein illustrated for too admitting the air and water, controlling the admission thereof, and separating one from the other are not herein specifically claimed, as they form the subject-matter of the beforementioned pending application of which this :o5 is a divisional part; neither do I claim herein the system of separation of the air and water as forms the subject-matter of an application filed by me December 3, 1900, Serial No. 38,542.

What I claim is as follows:

1. In an air-com pressor of the class described means for automatically controlling the air-supply to said compressor.

2. The combination with the air -supply 115 pipes of a hydraulic air-compressor of the class described, of means for automatically controlling the passage of air through said air-supply pipes substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 12e in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM JOHN LIN TON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM P. MCFEAT, FRED. J. SEARS.

IIC 

